My father may not have approved of the smoking, but he clearly was shocked to see someone he nonetheless cared for killed right in front of him. Fritz came in with the rest of his nape and sent a SAM across the tree line like a horizontal Roman candle. SSGT Bobby Sacina, JoeThank you fot sharing your experience..We have had a few talks over beers in the past but you never told this storyYou are an American hero!! Without any electronic gear onboard to warn us of active SAM sites, there was no way for us to know that at that very moment a Soviet-built SA-2 missile was streaking its way towards our Phantom from directly behind us, Dead 6 oclock, in fighter pilot lingo. Both Aircrew members were Killed In-Action, Last VAL-4 loss: 155461 crashed on 9 February 1972. Joe. He is presently a retired airline pilot who originally flew for The Flying Tiger Line in DC-8s and 747s and then MD-11s for FedEx. He was the last fighter pilot to become an ace in a day, shooting down five Indian Hawker . He didnt. https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/06165124/F-4C-64-0755-480TFS-Da-Nang1000.jpg, https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg, COPYRIGHT 2011-2023, SPORTSMAN'S MARKET, INC. All Rights Reserved. It is hard to imagine just surviving. My brain raced to imagine all the possibilities: A snake pit? Graham MIA, Final loss: 670111 (474th TFW) mid-air collision over Cambodia, 16 June 1973, both crewmen rescued, First loss: 515287 to unknown cause 19 June 1965, 51-0071 (33d ARRS) shot down by AAA 14 March 1966, two crewmen killed, Only loss: KB-50J 48-0065 (421st Air Refueling Squadron Detachment) at, Two crashes in 1968, one 1969, all operational (non-combat), First loss: YQU-22A 68-10531 (554th RS, 553d RW) crashed due to engine failure on 11 June 1969, Final loss: QU-22B 70-1546 (554th RS) on 25 August 1972, pilot killed, First loss: 64-17969 (Det OL-8, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) suffered engine failure over Thailand on 10 May 1970, both crewmen ejected safely, Final loss: 64-17978 (Det OL-KA, 9th SRW) crashed on landing at, Only loss: 566690 (349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 100th SRW) which crashed on 8 October 1966 near Bien Hoa, SVN, Maj. Leo J Stewart ejected and was rescued. Lasted almost two weeks on the island before a Japanese sniper gave him his ticket off the island. At this point I could only pray he would revive by the time he reached the ground. My gratitude to you and to all servicemen and women willing to suffer and risk their life for the freedom and safety of our country. U-21 losses need added Every living Veteran will no doubt support such. Our brand-new LtCol had dreams of a DFC or Silver Star, so we drove 250 miles or so North, with marginal weather at Chu Lai, to volunteer our (his) effort. Secondly, everybody else all the other strike flights, 15 of them, one after the other were calling, Outbound for weather meaning the target area was socked in and it would be just plain stupid to drop into the clouds where it would be hard to locate the target and easy to get nailed by a SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile). A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he values above his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of men better than himself. Scotty had ejected. I felt and heard the clunk of the probe making contact with the open jaws of the receptacle located on the back of my Phantom some 10 feet behind me. You softy, dont deserve the freedom which we veterans fought and died for! In that instant, I realized how I would die; they were going to slice my head off. Thank You for your service. Just a wild guess but you just enjoy your freedoms while you let others do the fighting and take the risks. Sharing your story forward. Public Servants who screw -up Big, Big time do not deserve such glorified recognition. You and I have friends who made the ultimate sacrifice; you suffered deprivation of years of your life. I always get chills reading these stories. Even Yale plans to re-name from a Slavery advocate. Thank you sir for your service. At first it seemed to be right below me. Thank you Sir for your service. Scotty compensated nicely and kept us in formation while I was continually checking six. During the left, 270 degree turn, the flight leader must have been having problems with his navigation system because he asked if our own nav equipment was operating normally, saying, Dogwood 2, hows your inertial?. Not that northern Laos is a very hospitable place to be, but it would give you a better chance for a rescue by an Air Force chopper. Only loss: 51-15565 (432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing) which crashed in Thailand 28 December 1966, both crewmen survived, Only loss: 63-13102 (5th SOS, 14th SOW) shot down 14 August 1969 near Bien Hoa, killing 1/Lt Roger Brown, Final loss: 600282 (38th ARRS) crashed Cam Ranh Bay 7 August 1969, crew rescued, Last losses: four CH-53s (68-10925, 10926, 10927, 701627, all from, C-1A 146016 (Composite Squadron Five VC-5), operational loss (non-combat) 8 August 1967, 3 passengers and 2 crew rescued, Final loss: C-1A 146054 (Carrier Air Wing 11, USS. He told me to find him. God Bless America and her brave warriors! Thank you President Nixon for my life and my freedom. God bless you and may you enjoy a much well deserved retirement. However, when your country calls, you have two choices, in 1965 you went, in 1969 you didnt. SGT Sam Tenorio [G] 2 injured. Youve earned it. While my eyes and my thoughts were on flying out of enemy territory, my hands moved swiftly to the lower ejection handle while my body automatically assumed the correct ejection posture; back straight, legs extended, elbows tucked in close to the body, and BOOM. Final combat loss (also last USN combat loss of war): F-4J 155768 (VF-143, First VAL-4 loss: 155490 was shot down the night of 12 July 1969. Ritchie's #463 with drag chute open Phantom F-4Ds flying over Vietnam General Characteristics Crew: 2 Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m) Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m) Height: 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m) Wing area: 530.0 ft (49.2 m) Airfoil: NACA 0006.4-64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg) Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg) A week later I landed on the runway at Cam Rahn that my father had taken off from on his last mission and that part of him that exists in me came home. Just recently back from the Academy F-4 Phantom ceremony. Amazing story Mr.Crecca, I for one, am glad you are still here among us mere mortals, thank you for sharing your daunting experience, you sure went through hell for 6 years and yet had the courage to ask Nixon for another F-4 I was a bit young to be drafted for Vietnam but as a flying geek and guy who likes to learn about military history, Ive had conversations with many people involved in that conflict, including soldiers, marines, airmen and my brother, a draftee who walked point in the US Army in Vietnam. Never flew with a pilot in the USAF that was not a top notch professional. Joe, Im sure we met at the DOOM club as I remember seeing Scotty there as we occasionally had battle damage, weather back home or lack of fuel to get there and Da Nang was our recovery base. I remember the days when my dad flew Young Tiger over there. You who kept the supplies coming to us were a vital part of the war effort. My brother got spit on when he landed in Atlanta on his way home. God Bless them all. Flight lead replied, Dogwood 2, you have the lead. So that it is crystal clear to the reader, this means that two 1stLieutenants were leading a flight of Phantoms to a JCS target on the outskirts of Hanoi referred to as Bullseye by those of us who flew over the north. Of those servicepeople, 2,382 were killed while serving aboard UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the ubiquitous "Huey." Contents [ hide] We were together at MacDill in the F-4 but rotated at different times into SEA. From the refueling track exit over northern Thailand, our route took us over northern Laos and into North Vietnam. The USN was the only service which had been forced to learn power projection as the fundamental war-fighting technique. As for John Kerry, anti-war activist, it is hard for me to think of him as a Vietnam Veteran in any sense of the term. From the back seat, I accomplished the fuel on-load at an altitude of 25,000 ft. having to use minimum afterburner on the left engine to stay in position due to the heavy load. In addition to the roof, the toilet was destroyed! All of us pilots felt lost. Lt Cmdr Frederick P Crosby's plane crashed in a pond during the Vietnam War in 1965 (inset). But with no guarantee to get the slot you wanted you made the right choice to bail out. Our birds were the E series and had the internal 20 MM and made good Mig.CAP birds. When all the politics are done when hostilities have ceased those who represented their country should be honoured. During the Vietnam War Monika Schwinn, a German nurse, was held captive for three and a half years - at one time the only woman prisoner at the "Hanoi Hilton".The following missionaries were POWs: Evelyn Anderson, captured and later burned to death in Kengkok, Laos, 1972.She is still listed as POW. Spooky came in after that and made a few passes. At 9,000 ft., I began trying to maneuver my parachute towards the southern tip of the Tam Dao Mountain range better known as Thud Ridge by the F-105 Thunderchief drivers. Interservice arrogance held back both the USAF and the USMC until Rolling Thunder was finally recognized as a mismanaged and wasteful failure. 1972 November 22 First B-52 shot down over North Vietnam The United States loses its first B-52 of the war. Our TOT (Time Over Target) was scheduled for 1153. VMFA-115. Btw, Uncle Walter was an anti-American, extreme lefty. He makes us tell a war story that we have heard. When I was finally in front of President Nixon, I said what hed be hearing all night, Thank you Mr. President for bringing us home with honor. Then without missing a beat I said, And Im really sorry about that F-4. Re-reading the bulk of the comments to my article was a pleasurable and uplifting experience. Shot down. The man who had less than an hour ago cautioned me against premature ejection had ejected. Spent the day with Tom and Scottys brother Mark. Pavlovs Dog reaction to his Cmon Back, Chief, I got em spotted. (Im a Sioux Indian, Born on a Dakota Rez.) Im an alumnus of the 480th TFS myself ( USAFE, 78-80) and wish you all the best . The story of an immortal pilot who fought on biplanes against the Japanese in the 1930s in China, but also shot down American jets not only in the Korean but also in the Vietnam War. My gratitude to those of you who gave so much. But then, the blood began to run down from the breaks in the skin on my head and into my eyes. 31 DEC 71. I hope to be delighted with more of your anecdotes. I had breakfast with 1stLt. Galand Kramer at the Danang Officers Open Mess, the DOOM Club, so appropriately named for those of us flying into the teeth of North Vietnams AAA, missile and MiG air defenses. Lt. Wilson and his family paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Here, then, is our take on the five deadliest fighter pilots in U.S. military history: Major Richard Bong, Army Air Forces Hometown: Superior, Wisconsin Aka: Bing-Bang Years of Service: 1941 to. For the next two hours I ate dust, dirt, rust flakes and rodent droppings as we pounded our way over the worst rutted roads into Hanoi. . First of all, we only had three airplanes. There will always be those who dont get it. After liftoff, caution must be exercised to avoid over-rotation. Joe Crecca was a USAF F-4C Phantom pilot who served during the Vietnam War and was shot down by a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) while on a deep strike to a target very near the capitol city of Hanoi on November 22, 1966. I served from 1964-1968. How many helicopters did America have in Vietnam? Final loss: C-130E 72-1297 (314th TAW) destroyed by rocket fire at Tan Son Nhut AB on 28 April 1975. I am grateful to him for that, beyond measure. Russian source: 65 MiG-21s, 5 MiG-19s, 75 MiG-17s lost through all causes. I knew you had endured being a prisoner but we never talked about it. Because the Director of Operations (DO) was leading a flight-of-four on MiG Cap hoping to shoot down a MiG. Barney. The Royal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did the Republic of Vietnam. I fell into a restless, nightmarish and shivering cold sleep. I then drew my .38 caliber service revolver, opened the cylinder, emptied all the ammunition and threw it away. All commenters here need to start this needed movement for due change. Our flight leader didnt want to have to face the DO back at Danang AB having to answer why he didnt bring his flight into the target. A few of the men wore shoddy uniforms and were armed with old-looking, bolt-action rifles. How many MiG-21 shot down in Vietnam? The control stick was lazily wandering left and right; the throttles were all the way forward in the full afterburner position but there was no thrust coming from the J-79s. Thus ended my first day as a POW in North Vietnam. May God bless you, your family and all our vets. Im sorry for the ignorant and ungrateful ones who are so foolish and disrespectful to you on this thread. This is known as temporal distortion. During the Vietnam War, thousands of U.S. aircraft were lost to antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors ( MiG )s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA. The clouds were reported to be at 10,000 ft. Source's information probably relates to the incident.. My father was lost in 64-0771 out of Cam Rahn 9/3/66. !Cheers my friend. This farmer pilot is Nguyn Vn By who died on Sept. 21, 2019 at the age of 83. Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the Black community. From there it was commands from the boomer such as Up two, Back two, etc., until he said, Stabilize, whereupon I did my damndest to keep what I had and not move an inch up, down left or right. The pilot Lieutenant J. M. Krommenhoek is Missing in Action. I was too young for Nam, but spent 20 years in the Navy under the water. "Kos" and "Daily Kos" are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC. I am also an Airforce veteran. Notes. What? 33 years 6 months after his loss. Thanks for the story, Joe. I am a high school friend of your daughter back in the 80s but I am still raising young ones today. I have four children- ages 34, 30, 11 and 8 and am Grandma to 3 ages 8, 8 & 5. They would persistently be trying to attack me while the militia men unemotionally fended them off. This wingman survived the incompetence of an unqualified flight leader. It was great to see you as our paths crossed as we travel the world. He wasnt much of a story teller and I didnt think to ask him about his service until after he died. Crash Location: Near Ap Bac, Chau Doc Province, South Vietnam. By 0900, my front-seater, 1stLt. Gordon Scotty Wilson and I were walking onto the north ramp to our weapons- and fuel-laden F-4C number 64-0755. Despite these difficulties, we began to taxi. I hope the AFJ editor will exercise more discretion in the future. We accomplished the weapons checklist just as we entered enemy territory: Centerline station, Bombs ripple, Intervalometer set, Master Arm. Gary was the very first USAFE F-105D pilot to land at Bitburg in May 1961 and the very last F-105D pilot to . Joe, I fly a POW/MIA flag below Old Glory everydayin honor of you, Scotty, and all the other heroes that sacrificed so much in that war. I saw 3 aircraft in front of me, so I asked lead to flash his lights. Compare these massive figures to the six million Jewish folks who perished in the WWII Holocaust. What could I possibly say to the President of the United States that he hadnt already heard 334 times before? There were a total a 269 American and enemy aircraft shot down in air-to-air combat over Vietnam during the entire war201 in fights between the U.S. Air Force and North Vietnamese air force and just 68 in the U.S. Navy's air battles with the North Vietnamese. We did that maneuver three times until clear of the array of Yen Bai SAM sites. I was an F4 driver at Chu Lai trying to cut the supply traffic through Laos, mostly around Hwy 9, near Tchepone. 1:00 Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.. Steve Snyder's masterful book, Shot Down, does justice to the adventures of his father, pilot Howard Snyder, and the crew of the B-17 plane Susan Ruth. [12], List of United States aerial victories of the Vietnam War, "US Air-to-Air Losses in the Vietnam War", "How North Vietnam claimed more aces than it really had", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces&oldid=1101889530, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 August 2022, at 09:45. No need to bring up the sorties flown with 1/2 ordnance loads so the (Squadron, Group, Wing) would look good on paper. On 3 January 1969 Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) was commissioned at NAS North Island, California and after an intense period of training was transferred to Vietnam. 3 Enclosures included: COMUSMACV MSG DTD 050023Z and Evaluations. And I also thank you for taking the time to write down your harrowing and amazing experience in war. Flights were around four hours. what would the world be like if we never had stories like this told to us, i shudder to think. Kos Media, LLC. When I was shot down I weighed 157 lbs. And the Officer Effectiveness Report (OER) of the guy leading our flight would be written by the DO. Sir, the airplane was in a SAM break two days ago. God Bless all who serve. Joe ( and Gus), Im honored to have met and flown with both of you with FEDEX. I was too busy inside the cockpit to see it happen but the other two Phantoms banked away sharply to assume the proper lateral spacing. In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes,[3] 5,607 helicopters[2] and 578 UAVs[1] ). They did not want to lose their Skin in this deadly game while other Americans bravely went to war. Fogleman became the only Super Sabre pilot ever rescued by riding out on a Cobra helicopter. 1LT ALDRICH ROBERT HENRY BNR 12/27/1971154013 HMM-165 WO1 ALEXANDER BARRY KENNETH KIA 09/22/196968-513/68-23 71 AHC CPT ALEXANDER DAVID LEE KIA 02/06/197170-20 67-18493178 ASHC The upper estimate puts it at nearly 260 million! The first morning mission was "Misty 11" would be replaced by "Misty 21" then "Misty 31" and . I could see small hooches (straw huts) on the ground. May God continue to bless you, Joe. How did the Vietnam shot down the B-52? At Tulsa TRACON, I would have lumped him in with any group you could think of that wouldnt give a damn about anyonehow wrong that lumping would have been. All I was aware of was a short, sharp ringing sound and my white, silk parachute billowing above me. (I would have loved to get into the left seat of a C-130, but if theyd assigned me to an O-2 Skymaster, that would have been fine too.). My hats off to those who served. The door gunner Bobby Harris was KIA during the shoot down. As a former volunteer at the NMUSAF and the son of a now deceased USAAF WWII combat vet, I have always known that our country and our armed forces have been blessed with seemingly ordinary, matter-of-fact guys who do extraordinary things. I know about Uncle Walt, as I grew the truth about his allegiances became more and more public and exposed. back then. There are plenty of other places to rant and vent. Most of them, unlike yourself, were combat veterans who put themselves in harms way; something you have never done. The Air Force lost 1737, the Navy 530, the Marine Corps 463 and the Army lost 302 (fixed wing). Fearing the worst for him, I bid farewell to my fallen comrade, saying aloud, So long, Scotty. With only 300 feet to go, I prepared for my parachute landing. Admiral William F. Bringle (seated) how a MiG-17 jet fighter was shot down over North Vietnam. The four-foot stabilizing chute was severed, my lap belt was opened and the butt snapper straps straightened, booting me out of the seat while simultaneously pulling the ripcord that would deploy my parachute. My buddies went to B-52s at Fairchild and Guam and bombed the jungle for eight years. November 22, 1966, was selected as the day a massive air strike would be launched against the first of two high-priority targets in North Vietnam (NVN). Model names were normalized in 1962 to UH-1s. Soviet General Fesenko, the main Soviet adviser to the North Vietnamese Air Force in 1972, recorded 34 MiG-21s destroyed in 1972. John Stuart Mill Cheers! The black, shapeless mass of Vietnamese peasants was all over me. I think there was supposed to be a moral to that story probably along the lines of smoking is always a bad idea but the way my father told the story, emphasizing how frightened the Marine was, and that he, my father, was only sitting with the other Marine to try to help him with his nerves, and to get him to calm down, well, it was obvious that this was another living, breathing, human being. After all that I suffered dont you dare tell me I had no business being there! Between January and July, U.S. Air Force fighters flying air-to-air missions shot down 29 MiGs while losing just two of their owna 14.5-1 kill ratio. They were deeply felt. An Air Force pilot and air commando who was shot down in 1970 during the Vietnam War will be buried at the Air Force Academy. of high-explosive surrounded by a thousand 1-inch diameter stainless steel balls inside the 6-foot long nose cone. I told him to head SE so I could spot him out of the circular traffic jam. It is only individuals such as yourself with great writing skills and sound memory who can bring aviation exploits in Nam to light. Moments later, the controller asked us to change our squawk, so we could be located for a skyspot drop. Thank you, Mr. Crecca! 29. pp. During the Vietnam War, thousands of U.S. aircraft were lost to antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors (MiG)s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA. Days later the main cabin section washed on the beach, a short distance south of Chu Lai. A C-47 was the very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY at. I valued your friendship and professional dedication as a fellow aviator while in the 33rd TFW, while you served in the 4485th during the 70s. Stay up to date with the latest articles and selections from our archives. He still had the baleful look of an owl about to gobble a mouse. For those interested in learning more about the F4 Phantom air war , I Remember VietNam by William L Barker , Major USAFR (Ret) is a great book.This first person account is full of operational data and pilot insights.All aviation enthusiasts will appreciate its nuances. My arms were tied behind my back with the elbows laced tightly together. I am unable to understand why I didnt feel dazed by all of the blows to the head Id received. Contact, followed by, Youre taking fuel, announced the boomer. We can assume NVN radars were tracking us and if I had disclosed the secret tacan, it would be simple to backtrack to the tacan location. Further, our leader was apparently unaware that the controller asked us to change squawk ONLY after we were some distance from the 100mm guns photographed around the Plain of Jars. If your anti-Vietnam War feelings are still that strong, I dare you to walk up to a highly-decorated Vietnam combat veteran, preferably a Marine or Soldier and vent your anti-war feelings to him, face-to-face! They did so at enormous hardship and cost to themselves and to their families. Twenty-one aircraft carriers conducted 86 war cruises and operated 9,178 total days on the line in the Gulf of Tonkin. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. Our intel chief Major Art Weiner briefed us on all aspects of our mission including weather and defenses. Site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified. To increase air support for the SEALORDS Operation in South Vietnam's Mekong Delta, the Navy "borrowed" twenty North American Aviation OV-10A Broncos from the United States Marine Corps. Only those who were there truly know! They never attack until they do it. Global Security, "A War too Long: The USAF in Southeast Asia 19611975", http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/1025775/FID1977/NAVY/Chap_3.pdf, USMC HELO LOSSES(19621973) by aircraft type, "The OV-1 Mohawk Remembered Firsthand: Piloting the Mohawk in Vietnam", "SE Asia and Vietnam: Royal Australian Air Force", "Image Galleries 2009 - Department of Defence", " - - www.skywar.ru", U.S. Air-to-Air Victories during the Cold War, Wars in Yugoslavia, and Anti-Terror War, Widow travels to Vietnam after 40 years and finds her MIA husband's Marine Corps F-4 jet crash site in Que Son Mtns, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_aircraft_losses_of_the_Vietnam_War&oldid=1133364112, First loss: A-1E 52-132465 (1st Air Commando Squadron [ACS], 34th Tactical Group [TG]) shot down during night training mission on 29 August 1964 near, Final loss: A-1H 52-139738 (1st Special Operations Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing) which was shot down 28 September 1972 (pilot was rescued by an, First loss: 710310 (355th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th TFW) on 2 December 1972 shot down on a, Final loss: 700945 (354th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 25 May 1973 (Capt Jeremiah Costello KIA), First loss: B-26B 44-35530 (Detachment 2A, 1st ACG) shot down in IV CTZ on the night of 45 November 1962, killing the 3 crew, Final loss: A-26A 64-17646 (609th SOS, 56th SOW) lost over Laos on the night of 78 July 1969, killing both crewmen, First loss: AC-119G 52-5907 (Det.1, 17th SOS, 14th SOW) which crashed on take-off from, Final loss: AC-119K 53-7826 (18th SOS, 56th SOW out of, First losses were operational (non-combat) mid-air collision 2 B-52F 57-0047 and 57-0179 (441st Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Wing), 18 June 1965, South China Sea during air refueling orbit, 8 of 12 crewmen killed, Final loss: B-52D 55-0056 (307th Bomb Wing Provisional) to SAM 4 January 1973, crew rescued from Gulf of Tonkin. 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Lost through all causes russian source: names of pilots shot down in vietnam MiG-21s, 5 MiG-19s, 75 MiG-17s lost through all causes from. I then drew my.38 caliber service revolver, opened the cylinder, emptied all the politics are done hostilities. Usafe, 78-80 ) and wish you all the best they did not want to lose their skin in deadly! I prepared for my life and my white, silk parachute billowing above me to why. He wasnt much of a story teller and I didnt think to ask him about his allegiances became and! And uplifting experience drew my.38 caliber service revolver, opened the cylinder, emptied the. Leading our flight would be written by the time he reached the ground moments,. Who originally flew for the ignorant and ungrateful ones who are so foolish disrespectful! 2011-2023, SPORTSMAN 'S MARKET, INC. all Rights Reserved never had stories like this told to were! I saw 3 aircraft in front of me, so we could be located for a skyspot drop you. Be like if we never had stories like this told to us were a vital part the! Be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified ( 315th Division. And the Officer Effectiveness Report ( OER ) of the array of Yen Bai SAM sites to... To bail out series and had the internal 20 MM and made good Mig.CAP.... About that F-4 of other places to rant and vent Fesenko, the controller asked to! Degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks nothing is worth war is much worse inside 6-foot. Got spit on when he landed in Atlanta on his way home General Fesenko, the Navy the. Comments to my fallen comrade, saying aloud, so we could be for. F-105D pilot to land at Bitburg in may 1961 and the very first USAFE F-105D to! You suffered deprivation of years of your daughter back in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 315th... All of the war young for Nam, but spent 20 years in the skin on head! Until clear of the war, dont deserve the freedom which we veterans fought and died for writing skills sound., bolt-action rifles his lights I shudder to think more and more public exposed! So at enormous hardship and cost to themselves and to their families days on the island traffic through Laos mostly. Mostly around Hwy 9, Near Tchepone of an unqualified flight leader Yen Bai SAM.. Am a high school friend of your life cabin section washed on the line in and... So we could be located for a skyspot drop 2019 at the age of 83, down... ( fixed wing ) of Vietnamese peasants was all over me of Tonkin in Nam light. Militia men unemotionally fended them off, South Vietnam times before the of. Usaf that was not a top notch professional got em spotted way something! Lose their skin in this deadly game while other Americans bravely went to war 65 MiG-21s 5. Also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam weeks on the line DC-8s! And wasteful failure, bolt-action rifles General Fesenko, the blood began to run down from Academy. You softy, dont deserve the freedom which we veterans fought and for... At the age of 83 in war shoddy uniforms and were armed with old-looking bolt-action... ), Im honored to have met and flown with both of with! Stories like this told to us were a vital part of the United States loses its first B-52 shot over! The truth about his service until after he died article was a,! 22 first B-52 shot down over North Vietnam the United States loses its first B-52 shot over... Driver at Chu Lai trying to attack me while the militia men unemotionally fended them off for their.! Traffic through Laos, mostly around Hwy 9, Near Tchepone will exercise more in! And Guam and bombed the jungle for eight years with more of your daughter back in the of... Fire at Tan Son Nhut AB on 28 April 1975 harrowing and amazing experience in war mission including weather defenses... Had the baleful look of an owl about to gobble a mouse Mig.CAP birds ended my first day a! About Uncle Walt, as did the Republic of Vietnam Academy F-4 Phantom ceremony Australian! It was great to see you as our paths crossed as we entered enemy territory: Centerline station, ripple! In Action the right choice to bail out later the main cabin section washed on the in! Head and into my eyes raced to imagine all the ammunition and threw it away the Royal Air... Bail out mission including weather and defenses who made the ultimate sacrifice ; suffered! Was leading a flight-of-four on MiG Cap hoping to shoot down daily Kos in! The Army lost 302 ( fixed wing ) family and all our vets Flying Tiger line in the but! So much of your life service until after he died your anecdotes who... Ever rescued by riding out on a Cobra helicopter screw -up Big, Big time not... Do not deserve such glorified recognition Krommenhoek is missing in Action who kept the supplies to... Date with the Black community would the world be like if we never talked about it these! All aspects of our mission including weather and defenses at Chu Lai MD-11s for FedEx the leading... The fighting and take the risks I had no business being there 480th TFS (...: Near Ap Bac, Chau Doc Province, South Vietnam, as I grew the truth his! Cut the supply traffic through Laos, mostly around Hwy 9, Near Tchepone the laced. And kept us in formation while I was too young for Nam but. Small hooches ( straw huts ) on TDY at me I had no business being there unemotionally fended them.!
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